How the price is calculated
Interior painting is priced here by the room: a base charge for the job (setup, masking, moving furniture, cleanup) plus a rate for each room's walls, two coats. A "room" is a bedroom, office or living area up to about 14 by 14 feet with 8 foot ceilings. Kitchens with lots of cabinets cut in count about the same; a big open living and dining area counts as two.
Add-ons are priced on top:
- Ceilings. Flat white on ceilings is a separate pass with its own ladder work
- Trim and doors. Baseboards, door casings and door slabs take semi-gloss and a steady hand; they often cost as much as a room of walls
- Drywall repair. Patching nail pops, dents and old anchors before paint
The rates are typical for an insured company in the US. Large metros run higher, rural areas lower. Read how much to charge for interior painting for the full method, or what it costs to paint a room for room by room numbers.
What changes the price
- Color change. Going from a dark color to a light one usually needs a primer coat
- Ceiling height. Vaulted or 10 foot ceilings mean more paint and taller ladders
- Condition. Peeling paint, water stains and smoke damage need sealing first
- Empty or furnished. An empty house paints faster than a furnished one
For painting contractors
The same calculator goes on your website with your own base price, room rate and add-ons, alongside exterior, cabinet and deck pricing. Homeowners see your range at 10 p.m. instead of calling three painters, and leads arrive with the room count and the add-ons they picked.